3 Penguins With The Most To Prove In 2023-24

The Pittsburgh Penguins are looking to get back in the playoff picture after failing to reach the postseason for the first time in 16 years. They altered their lineup by adding new pieces, but more than that, they will need some players to bounce back. Here are three Penguins with the most to prove in 2023-24.

Tristan Jarry

The Penguins elected to stick with their goalie, Tristan Jarry, for five more years despite it looking like they were bound to go separate ways and he had just come off a down year for his standards. He now has five seasons in the NHL, but can't string two strong seasons together. His worst season saw him finish with .908 SV%, and last season he ended with a .909 SV%. He will have pressure to help the team get back into the playoffs as the starter and put up numbers like he did in his great seasons (around .920 SV%).

Lars Eller

Lars Eller's points really dropped off last season as he split the year between the Washington Capitals and Colorado Avalanche. While the Capitals' center depth forced him to play on the fourth line, he couldn't get anything going in Colorado once he was dealt there. He's a strong two-way presence, but the Penguins are going to be expecting more from him than what he showed throughout last season. If Jeff Carter struggles again on the third line, Eller is in line to step up. As he's signed for two years at $2.45 million, AAV that is a little expensive for a fourth liner to not contribute.

Jeff Petry

Jeff Petry should still have a fairly big role on the Penguins this season as the right side remains weak, but it appears as though he has passed his short prime. Unfortunately for the Penguins, they weren't able to acquire him soon enough. It was the Montreal Canadiens who got four years of the veteran scoring 10+ goals and 40+ points. The Penguins still have two more years of Petry, so with a revamped team, he must help in finding his offensive touch once again.